Chapter 714: Kanna, Who Didn’t Take the Train
Fred and George certainly had a knack for lightening people's wallets. By the time Harry left the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, he had only a few Galleons left in his pocket. He doubted he would have parted with even those if it hadn't been for the school-related expenses he needed to cover.
What made him spend so freely were the fascinating joke items and the Defense Against the Dark Arts tools, each of which seemed remarkably practical. Besides, after being cooped up for more than a month, Harry found himself indulging in an unplanned shopping spree. Before he realized it, his money pouch was empty, and the jingling Galleons had been traded for an assortment of magical trinkets. He didn't mind, though—Harry felt quite pleased with his purchases.
During the final week of the holidays, Harry and Ron spent their days experimenting with the gadgets they had bought. One mishap occurred when Hermione, distracted and unaware, mistook a joke-shop cup for a teacup. The result? Her teeth turned a vivid shade of blue.
Hermione's slightly prominent front teeth stood out even more in this colorful state, which left her furious. She refused to speak to Harry for several days. Only after Fred and George returned with a potion to restore her teeth's normal color—and Harry swore repeatedly that leaving the cup on the table had been an accident—did Hermione begrudgingly forgive him. However, she made her displeasure clear by refusing to help them with their homework.
"You'd better hurry," Kyle remarked with a grin as he watched Harry and Ron scribbling furiously at their assignments near the end of August. "School starts tomorrow. If you don't finish tonight, you won't be getting any sleep tomorrow night."
Harry and Ron didn't reply; they didn't have time for anything beyond their mounting pile of homework. Who would have guessed that after two whole months, they still hadn't completed it all?
"Don't look so smug. Everyone's had to cram their homework at Hogwarts a few times," Charlie chimed in, recalling his own days of last-minute studying. "But Kyle," he added with a curious glance, "I don't think I've ever seen you do any homework. Did you finish it before you got here?"
"No," Kyle replied coolly. "I didn't do any of it."
Harry and Ron paused mid-sentence, glancing up simultaneously before shifting over to make space for Kyle.
"You don't need to worry about me," Kyle said, waving them off casually. "I don't have to do my homework. I've been busy with Ministry of Magic work, so the Professors gave me special permission."
"You don't have to do your homework?" Ron's envy was palpable, his eyes narrowing with frustration.